Encourage Sustainability Through Beverage Container Recycling

KEY INSIGHTS

• Getting serious about sustainability showcases your business’ commitment to a cleaner, greener future by helping to reduce waste and litter
• One way you can do this is by taking advantage of beverage container recycling.
• NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT all have 10c refund schemes in place, with Tas and Vic set to introduce theirs next year
• All schemes work by returning empty containers to designated return points

TAKING STEPS to make your business more sustainable exemplifies your commitment to a cleaner, greener future by helping to reduce waste and litter, and as such is a fundamental component of any responsible foodservice operation. And you might be surprised to know that there are some great sustainability initiatives you can take advantage of right now!

One example is beverage container recycling programs. In 2017 the NSW Government launched Return and Earn [https://returnandearn.org.au], the largest litter reduction scheme introduced in that state, funded by contributions from the beverage industry, and similar schemes are in place for other states.

At the time Return and Earn was introduced, drink container litter made up a staggering 44 per cent of the volume of all litter in the state and cost $162m to manage. Since commencement, a staggering 7.92 billion containers have been returned for recycling via the scheme.

Other states either have highly similar programs or are in the process of developing them.

Introduced in 2018, Containers for Change [https://www.containersforchange.com.au] operates in Queensland and WA and also gives a 10c refund for containers, with similar exclusions to those in the NSW scheme.

South Australia’s Container Deposit Scheme [https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/energy-and-environment/recycling-and-waste/container-deposit-scheme] is the oldest in the nation, having been introduced back in 1977.  The Northern Territory also has a Container Deposit Scheme [https://ntepa.nt.gov.au/your-environment/container-deposit-scheme] run by its Environmental Protection Authority.

Tasmania has announced plans to introduce its Recycle Rewards [https://nre.tas.gov.au/environmental-management/recycle-rewards] scheme next year, and Victoria is currently engaged in the tender process for its yet to be named Container Deposit Scheme [https://engage.vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme] which it expects will be up and running in 2023.

All the schemes give you 10c for each eligible empty drink container delivered to a return point [https://returnandearn.org.au/return-points] across the state. In NSW these include automated depots where you simply hand your containers to a service assistant for automated counting while you wait. It’s a quick and efficient process and once completed, the assistant issues you your refund on the spot.

Containers eligible for a refund across all state schemes include standard soft drink containers, beer bottles, milk cartons and juice boxes/poppers. They don’t include glass wine/spirit bottles, or milk/juice containers of 1 litre or more in volume.

All containers must be completely empty, have the label attached and not be crushed or broken prior to return.

As a foodservice professional, you can play an important role in setting a positive example for your customers and competitors to follow – by making sustainability a key part of your business values, and inspiring others to do the same.

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